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Local Government Reorganisation

My Lords, I warmly congratulate the Minister and the Government on their decision to extend the boundaries of the city of Leicester. Does she agree with me that its current boundaries are absurd and should have been extended years ago, as half of what is really the city is presently administered by other authorities? Does she agree that the city of Leicester desperately needs more land for business and housing, and it needs much greater local funding to be able to satisfy its inhabitants?

Finally, does the Minister agree that the gerrymandering accusation is laughable? If anything, this decision allows other parties that have not had a look-in for many years a way into Leicester’s governance. It is something they should stop complaining about.